1

BEREAN BIBLE INSTITUTE, INC. PO BOX 587, SLINGER, WI 53086

BIBLE ANSWERS TO BIBLE QUESTIONS

AND INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE HOLY WORD OF GOD

DECEMBER 2009

BEREAN BIBLE INSTITUTE, INC. PO BOX 587, SLINGER, WI 53086

BIBLE ANSWERS TO BIBLE QUESTIONS

Mary was a teenaged girl living in Nazareth of Galilee when God sent the angel Gabriel to announce to her that she was about to conceive and bring forth a Son that she was to name Jesus (see Lk. 1:26-31). He further made known to her that the Child she would give birth to would be called “the Son of the Highest” and that the Lord God would seat Him on David’s throne where He will one day rule over Israel, or the “house of Jacob,” in a never ending kingdom (see Lk. 1:32-33).

We don’t know how well this young woman understood the implications of the identity of the Child she would bare, but Gabriel was in effect telling her that her Son would be the Hope of Israel, the promised Messiah. He would be the One who would deliver Israel from her enemies and finally bring peace and prosperity to God’s chosen people, the Children of Israel.

But, Mary did understand that there was no way that it was humanly possible for her to conceive a child as a virgin, so she asked; “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” (Lk. 1:34). This was not a question of unbelief, but one of amazement. No doubt she was thinking, “how could such a thing happen to me?” She was engaged to a godly man and she was a virtuous woman who would remain a virgin until her wedding night, so the angel Gabriel’s announ-cement was difficult for her to digest. This was a huge moment in her life and things would never be the same for her again.

Gabriel’s answer to Mary’s question was, “the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God” (Lk. 1:35).

We don’t find any other questions by Mary recorded for us in the Scripture, but we can be sure that she had a number of them in her mind. What would happen to her if she was found to be with child outside of marriage? She couldn’t prove she was a virgin and so she could be stoned. How would this affect her engagement? Joseph could refuse to marry her and her family would be humiliated. A thousand “what ifs” probably ran through her mind. But, no amount of speculation and concern over how things might turn out could prepare her for the anguish she would suffer when the Son she would bare and raise would die as a young man of about 33 years of age. She would watch as He was publicly humiliated and the crucified by Roman soldiers. She witnessed His agonizing death on the Cross. She must have been asking herself “why did this happen to Him?” “Why did He persist in antagonizing the religious leaders with His teachings, provoking them to finally demand He be put to death?” Why? why? why?, certainly went through her mind that fateful day. Of course, after His resurrection three days after His death her questions were answered. The things she wondered about while raising a particularly unique Child to adulthood and watching Him becoming a celebrity of sorts as an itinerant preacher and miracle worker who embarrassed her and His brothers by the public attention, both positive and negative, that He attracted could finally be put into perspective. He came as the long awaited Messiah, the Christ of Israel to redeem God’s chosen people, and through them to offer salvation to the Gentiles. The Kingdom of God on earth was at hand, but Israel rejected her

(continued on page 2)

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” II Timothy 3:16

Volume 3 Issue 8 December 2012

2

explanation of the vision given to the prophet. Verse 24 speaks of “seventy weeks” that have been determined for Daniel’s people (Israel) and the holy city (Jerusalem). These seventy “weeks of years” add up to 490 years that are divided into a “seven week” or 49 year period; a “sixty-two week” or 434 year period; and a “one week” or 7 year period. The seven week and sixty-two week periods, which equal 483 years, have already transpired. They took place between the decree authorizing the rebuilding of Jerusalem in 445 B.C. (Neh. 2:1-8) and the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:51-60). The seventieth and last week of seven years is still future. The “prince who is to come,” the anti-Christ (Dan. 9:26) will confirm a covenant of “one week” or seven years with Israel, but will break it in the middle of that week, or after 1,260 days which equals forty-two months or 3 1/2 years. During the first 3 1/2 years or 1,260 days of the 7 year Tribulation God will supernaturally protect and empower two special witnesses to prophecy and perform miracles (Rev. 11:3-6). At the appointed time, mid-way through the 7 years the Beast, or anti-Christ will overcome and kill the two witnesses. After 3 1/2 days God will resurrect them and take them to heaven (Rev. 11:7-14).

After this the anti-Christ will be allowed to continue in his evil ways for 42 months before Jesus Christ returns to destroy his armies and cast him and the false-prophet in to the Lake of Fire (Rev. 19:19-21). So what we see is that the 1,260 days equal 42 months or 3 1/2 years based on 12 months per year with 30 days per month. The reference to a “time and times and half a time” (Dan. 7:25; 12:7; Rev. 12:14); “1,260 days” (Rev. 11:3; 12:6); and “forty-two months” (Rev. 11:2; 13:5) are all references to the last 3 1/2 years of the 7 year Tribulation. Generally the term “Tribulation” is applied to the first 3 1/2 years and the term, “Great Tribulation” to the second 3 1/2 years because of the increase of the intensity of the evil taking place on earth that is perpetuated by Satan through the anti-Christ as well as the judgments of God’s wrath that are being poured out during that dreadful time of trouble on the earth.

(BIBLE ANSWERS TO BIBLE QUESTIONS cont. from page 1)

resurrected Messiah, and God offered salvation directly to the whole world through faith in Him who shed His blood for us. Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and has been raised from the dead so that all who believe might receive the gift of eternal life. To truly celebrate His birth we must first acknowledge His death and rejoice in His resurrection. If He was not alive today, His virgin birth and sacrificial death would be meaningless facts of history. But, Christ is risen from the dead and is alive forevermore. Do you know Him? He wants to be your Savior. If you trust in Him He will forgive you of your sins and give you the gift of eternal life.

Because Christ is Alive!

W. Edward Bedore Dr. W. Edward Bedore, Editor

BBI Bulletin, BABQ

QUESTION: In studying Scriptures about the Rapture I was reading passages that refer to the seven year Tribulation that will follow after it. Using thirty day months and doing the math from the numbers in Scripture it seems that they refer to six month periods rather than twelve month years. For instance forty-two months divided by seven equals six months. This would add up to only three and one-half normal twelve month years, or seven years of six months each. This works out the same if we use the 1,260 days mentioned in Scripture (1,260 days ÷ 30 days = 6 months per year). This is based on the following verses; Jer. 30:7; Dan. 9:27; Rev. 11:1-3; 12:6,14; 13:1-5. Which are listed in your article in the Fall 2012 edition of the BBI Bulletin. Would you please explain?

ANSWER: The problem is that I should have referenced at least one additional passage of Scripture, Daniel 9:24-27 along with some

BIBLE ANSWERS TO BIBLE QUESTIONS

AND INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE HOLY WORD OF GOD

(All questions answered by the Editor unless otherwise noted)

3

effort by Herod to kill the One born to be the

King of the Jews was carried out according to

the time determined by the wise men from the

East (Matt. 2:7,16). In accordance with the

prophecy of the birthplace of the Messiah,

Herod sent the wise men to Bethlehem with

instructions to report the Child’s location to him

after they found Him (Matt. 2:1-8; Mic. 5:2). But,

God intervened and sent the star they had first

seen in the East to guide them to the house

where the young Jesus was in Nazareth, and

there they presented Him with gifts befitting a

king (Matt. 2:9-11). God then warned them not

to return to Herod, so they returned to their own

country another way (Matt. 2:12). God also

warned Joseph in a dream to flee to Egypt to

escape Herod (Matt. 2:1:3-14). When Herod

realized the Magi had left without telling him

exactly where the Child born to be the King of

the Jews was, and thinking the Christ Child was

in Bethlehem, the evil king then had all the male

children two years and younger in Bethlehem

and the surrounding region put to death (Matt.

2:16-18). Joseph, Mary, and Jesus stayed in

Egypt until Herod died and then returned to

Nazareth of Galilee, where Jesus Christ lived

until He began His public ministry at about

thirty years old (Matt. 2:19-23; Lk. 3:23).

QUESTION FOR THE READER: WHO AM I?

I was a slave who lived in Colosse but stole from my master and ran away to Rome where I met Paul and became a believer in Jesus Christ. Paul sent me back to Colosse with a letter to my master appealing to him to forgive me. Who am I?

Answer: in the February BABQ

Answer to the November Question for the Reader: Who Am I? SILAS

(I was sent with the Apostle Paul to deliver a letter. He chose me to accompany him through Syria and Cilicia in his missionary work. In Philippi I was thrown in prison. Paul left me in Thessalonica when he was in fear of his life and later I joined him in Corinth. Who am I?)

QUESTION: How old was Jesus Christ and

where was He when the Magi found Him?

ANSWER: When the Magi came, the Lord Jesus

was no longer a Babe wrapped in swaddling

clothes and lying in a manger, as He had been

when the shepherds came to see Him (Lk. 2:8-

16). We know this because the Scriptures say

that when the star led the Magi to Him, He was

a “young child” and He was in a house with His

mother (Matt. 2:9-11). And, He was no longer in

Bethlehem of Judea but in Nazareth of Galilee.

While there are many popular traditions

concerning it, all that we can know for sure

about the Lord Jesus Christ’s birth and the

events surrounding it are found in the Bible

from the Gospel Records of Matthew and Luke.

Piecing the information we find in Matthew and

Luke together, the following sequence of events

emerges concerning the coming of the Magi

from the East to worship Him.

After Jesus Christ’s birth, He was

circumcised on the eighth day as prescribed in

the Law (Lk. 2:21; Lev. 12:1-3). Then, when the

time of Mary’s purification according to the Law

of Moses was completed, she and Joseph

brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the

Lord (Lk. 2:22; Lev. 12:4). The days of Mary’s

purification were to continue another thirty-

three days after Jesus’ circumcision, so He was

eight plus thirty-three, or forty-one days old

when He was dedicated at the Temple and the

proper sacrifices offered (Lk. 2:23-24; Lev. 12:6-8).

Then, after performing all the things required by

the Law, Joseph took His family back to their

home in Nazareth of Galilee (Lk. 2:39). It was

there in Nazareth that the Magi, or wise men,

would find the Lord Jesus as a young child at

least one year later. This time frame is evident

since Herod learned from the Magi when the

star signaling Christ’s birth had first appeared to

them and later had all of the male children two

years old and younger murdered in his effort to

eliminate God’s Anointed One. This diabolical

BIBLE ANSWERS TO BIBLE QUESTIONS

AND INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE HOLY WORD OF GOD

4

Bible Answers to Bible Questions is published by Berean Bible Institute of Slinger, Wisconsin. All rights reserved. Bible Answers to Bible Questions is sent free of charge to all who request it.

Berean Bible Institute, Inc. admits students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin.

“Thanks be unto God for

His unspeakable gift”

2 Corinthians 9:15

“For the wages of sin is

death, but the gift of God

is eternal life through

Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Romans 6:23

BEREAN BIBLE INSTITUTE

116 Kettle Moraine Drive S.

PO Box 587

Slinger, Wisconsin 53086

Phone: (262) 644-5504

Fax: (262) 644-5507

E-mail: bbi@bereanbibleinstitute.org

Web: www.bereanbibleinstitute.org

the seventh commandment, the readers of this edition of the Bible were told “Thou shalt commit adultery.” For this mistake the printer was fined three hundred pounds, a great sum of money in those days.

The Youngest King

Joash was only seven years old when He was placed on the throne of Judah. He reigned forty years, dying at the age of forty-seven (II Chron. 24:1). This same king is also referred to as Jehoash (II Kin. 11:21). After his father, Ahaziah, died, Joash’s aunt Jehosheba saved him as a baby from being murdered by his own grandmother, Athaliah. Athaliah managed to kill all of the male heirs to the throne except Joash, who was hid away in the Temple until he was seven when Jehoiada the priest led a coup against Athaliah and made Joash king of Judah (II Kin. 11:1-16). While Jehoiada the priest was alive Joash served the Lord, but after his death he allowed idolatry to grow bringing the wrath of God on Judah (II Chron. 24:17-18). He was murdered by his own servants after his larger army was defeated in battle by a much smaller Syrian force and he was left badly wounded (II Chron. 24:23-25).

BIBLE ANSWERS TO BIBLE QUESTIONS

AND INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE HOLY WORD OF GOD

COMMON SAYINGS FROM THE BIBLE

“Pulling My Hair Out”

The origin of this popular saying comes from the actions of Ezra, who was a priest and scribe, when he came into Jerusalem. He left Persia to lead a group of Jewish exiles back to the Promised Land about 50 years after the Temple was rebuilt. When he arrived he found that many of the people, including Levites and priests, had violated the Law by intermarrying with the non-Jewish pagan peoples who were living in the land (Ezra 9:1-2). In regards to hearing this Ezra writes; “So when I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my robe, and plucked out some of the hair of my head and beard, and sat down astonished” (Ezra 9:3). Ezra was so perplexed over the sin of God’s people that his initial response to the news of their apostasy that he could only sit down in stunned amazement and pull out clumps of hair from his head and beard. After a time of fasting and prayer Ezra led a spiritual revival in Judea that resulted in the Jews turning back to the Lord and separating themselves from the heathen.

It is not uncommon today to hear people say they are “pulling their hair out” to express their frustration over some challenging situation or another they are faced with.

INTERESTING BIBLE FACTS

The Wicked Bible

In 1632, a Bible was published in London with a noticeable printing error. The little word ‘not” was inadvertently left out of one of the Ten Commandments. Instead of being forbidden by

President & Executive Editor: Robert E. Nix, Ph.D.

Managing Editor: W. Edward Bedore, Th.D

Composition & Layout: Jessica Sadler